{"id":1606,"date":"2023-05-12T14:15:22","date_gmt":"2023-05-12T14:15:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.sleepdunwoody.com\/blog\/?p=1606"},"modified":"2024-03-15T14:15:42","modified_gmt":"2024-03-15T14:15:42","slug":"drowsy-driving-and-sleep-apnea-deadly-combination","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.sleepdunwoody.com\/blog\/2023\/05\/12\/drowsy-driving-and-sleep-apnea-deadly-combination\/","title":{"rendered":"Drowsy Driving and Sleep Apnea: A Potentially Deadly Combination"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\"yawning<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

As your tires run over the rumble strip between lanes, you jolt. For a split second, you\u2019re not sure where you are or what you\u2019re doing. You realize you\u2019re driving and have been sleepy for the past few miles. In fact, you weren\u2019t paying enough attention and have missed your exit. But driving while you\u2019re drowsy can lead to more serious consequences than just an annoying inconvenience\u2014it could be deadly!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In this post, you\u2019ll learn why drowsy driving is not something to take lightly and how it\u2019s connected to sleep apnea and snoring.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

Is Drowsy Driving Really Dangerous?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

At some point, everyone feels tired, but the last place you should be if you haven\u2019t had enough rest is behind the wheel. In 2017, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates 91,000 accidents involved a drowsy driver, causing 50,000 injuries and almost 800 deaths, according to compiled police reports nationwide.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You cannot always predict or sense the moment when sleep comes over you, and you may not awaken until it\u2019s too late. Some research suggests that drowsy driving may be almost as, if not just as, risky as driving intoxicated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What Makes Drowsy Driving So Risky?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

When you are excessively tired, your driving ability becomes severely impaired because of the following:<\/p>\n\n\n\n